It looks like Artemi Panarin may not be interested in giving the New York Rangers a hometown discount on his next contract.
Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30, less than a month into the final season of the seven-year, $81.5 million contract he signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2019. There have been talks concerning a new contract — but no deal.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast this week that the Russian forward rebuffed a proposal to do for the Rangers what longtime Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar did — take less money.